SMiT™ RF Shield Clips

Application Notes
SMiT™ RF Shield Clips
1.0 Faster Assembly and Greater Flexibility for
EMI/RFI Shields
The Autosplice SMiT Shield Clips are a surface mount
product that offer an automated solution to EMI/RFI
shield assembly. As a discrete receptacle component,
the SMiT Clips are a cost-effective alternative to hand
soldering.
The SMiT Shield Clips are packaged in EIA tape
and reel and are compatible with standard highspeed placement equipment. The clip can be placed
anywhere on the PCB, eliminating the need for excess
holes saving PCB real estate.
Standard
The following application notes review Autosplice’s
recommendations for the stencil & solder pad, picking
and placement of the SMiT Shield Clips, frequency
and aperture gaps as well as additional indirect
benefits of the shiels clips.
2.0 Stencil & Solder Pad Recommendations
Standard Clip
Rectangular Pad .095” + .000”/-.005” x .370”
A reduction in pad width to .085” in some applications
will still allow for the clip to self align, but may
sacrifice solder fillet formation in certain areas.
Mini Clip
Rectangular pad .040” + .000”/-.005” x .220”
Paste Pattern is 1:1 aperture to pad for a standard
paste thickness of .006”.
Autosplice, Inc.
Tel: (858) 535-0077
Mini
Autosplice’s recommended pad and paste patterns
have been determined to provide maximum solder
fillet formation and enhance self-alignment of the
Shield Clip to the pad during reflow.
Applications with thicker paste requirements may
require smaller stencil aperture. For example: a paste
thickness of .008”, Autosplice recommends a stencil
aperture of .085” x .325” (standard clip). Controlling
the paste volume will help avoid excess solder fillets
and misalignment after reflow. It will also ensure that
the Shield Clip will solder flush to the PCB pad surface.
A clip misplaced of up to 20 degrees off pad center
has been able to achieve alignment after reflow with
proper pad and paste parameters established.
There are many pastes and pad variations that could
achieve similar results. Autosplice recommendations
are guidelines to achieve maximum results based on
an overall assessment of standard SMT placement
practices. Paste type, reflow parameters, PCB type
and ground plane design may alter results slightly.
Fax: (858) 535-0130
E-mail: connect@autosplice.com
Web: autosplice.com
3.1 Picking the SMiT Shield Clip
Our shield clips are compatible with standard SMT
vacuum nozzles. For example: the standard clip utilizes
a 1mm vacuum nozzle and the mini-clip can be placed
with a .6mm to .7mm vacuum nozzle. Actual nozzle
sizes differ from various platform manufacturers but
all have sizes close in range to the sizes mentioned
above.
The pick up platform on the clip is located .035”.040” from the top of the pocket.
Pick up nozzle
Recommendations for continuous ground planes vary
greatly. Please consult with our engineers to determine
the pad & stencil geometry that best suit your
application’s needs.
PCB
Solder Paste
3.0 Pick & Placement
Autosplice’s SMiT Shield Clips come packaged in
16mm (Standard Clip) and 12mm (Mini-Clip) EIA
standard tape & reel. These clips are compatible
with brand name equipment such as FUJI, Panasonic,
Siemens, Sanyo and others.
Pick up nozzle
If the pick up platform is deformed due to nozzle
pressure, the placement machine could detect a misspick or experience placement anomalies.
.040”
Tape Pocket
Autosplice’s Shield Clips have been placed at speeds
of up to 20,000 parts per hour. As with most surface
mount components, there are some pick and placement
criteria that will assist in setting up your system to
achieve maximum placement speed and accuracy.
Autosplice, Inc.
The placements machine needs to be programmed to
pick the part out of the pocket with the nozzle level
with the top of the pocket. It is critical that the vacuum
of the nozzle be allowed to pull the part from the
pocket and not push down on the pick up platform of
the clip.
Tel: (858) 535-0077
3.2 Placing the SMiT Shield Clip
The clips’ features and recommended PCB pad size
are designed to allow for placement up to 20 degrees
off center and allow the clip to self align on the pad
during reflow.
Most SMT “Chip Shooters” have the capability to far
exceed this placement accuracy without sacrificing
performance. It is recommended that the placement
machine always be setup for maximum performance.
Fax: (858) 535-0130
E-mail: connect@autosplice.com
Web: autosplice.com
Shielding Aperture Design
Aperture Dimension
10
1/10 Wave Length
Ma
1.0
rg
ina
l
Bad
1/50 Wave Length
0.1
Good
0.01
10M
100M
1G
The SMiT Clips need to be placed to a depth of at
least 50% into the paste without being pushed 100%
onto the PCB surface. This will guarantee that the clip
will be secure against PCB movement before reflow
and be pulled down flush to the PCB during the relow
process. The pickup platform of the clip should not be
deflected during the placement operation.
10G
100G
testing for shielding effectivity before finalizing any
design. To address the common questions of clip
placement pitch and the gap created between the
edge of the shield and the PCB, the Aperture Design
Rules for the operating resonance frequencies must be
accommodated.
4.0 Frequency & Aperture Gap
These design rules indicate distance between the
Shield Clips, as well as the requirements for mass and
size and retention of the shield.
Some applications require access holes or apertures
throughout the shield to allow for testing, circuit
tuning, cleaning, etc. The size, frequency and pitch of
apertures allowed for any particular application is
directly related to the radiated frequency trying to be
contained, or protected from.
For example: to determine the aperture gap between
the PCB and the bottom of the shield on an application
that needed to be shielded against a frequency of 1
GHz, the Aperture Design Rules suggests a maximum
aperture of .110”.
The Aperture Design Rules Chart can be used as a
reference guide in determining the aperture allowed
for any particular range of frequency. In designing
for aperture allowance, both operating and resonance
frequency need to be considered.
The Aperture Desgin Rules Chart is only a guide to get
you started. Autosplice always recommends extensive
Autosplice, Inc.
Tel: (858) 535-0077
Using the standard clip as a reference: Testing would
start with the clips on .456” centers, that would result
in a gap of .100” between clips. As testing continues
at various frequency levels spacing could be increased
at intervals of 10% until maximum spacing is reached,
while maintaining the target sheilding effectiveness of
the application.
Fax: (858) 535-0130
E-mail: connect@autosplice.com
Web: autosplice.com
At higher frequencies, the shield edge could be
notched at clip location to reduce the gap at the
PCB level. This would minimize the gap between the
Shield Edge and the PCB surface reducing aperture
size. Autosplice SMiT Shield Clips are being used
successully in applications within a frequency range of
500 MHz ro 2.5 GHz.
5.0 Recommended Mechanical Hold Downs
The shield clip provides an electrical ground between
a shield and a PCB. Each clip has 1/10th of a lb.
retention force. In some high vibration environments,
addtional mechanical hold downs are recommended.
Specifications:
Material: Copper Alloy and Stainless Steel
Plating Options: Lead Free Matte (Tin) or Tin Lead
(90/10)
Life Cycle: 10 actuations minimum
Operating Temperature: -40°C to 105°C at 85% RH
SMiT™ Shield Clips Benefits
• Eliminates the need for secondary soldering.
Solderability: Per Mil-STD-202, Method 208
Paste Recommendations Thickness: .006”-.008”
(0.15-0.20)
• Saves PCB real estate.
• Eliminates the need for costly two piece assembly.
• Allows for inspection, testing, tuning and cleaning
of the circuit without the sheild in place.
For further information contact the Autosplice
Engineering Department at 800-535-5538
• Eliminates the need for desoldering when removing
shields.
Autosplice, Inc.
Tel: (858) 535-0077
Fax: (858) 535-0130
E-mail: connect@autosplice.com
Web: autosplice.com
Shield Clip - Global Product Offering
Part Number Description
Shield
Thickness
Solder
Wicking
Holes
Height
Quantity
per reel
Base
Material
Plating
Pad size
Pick Up
Location
*ATCAA-01-001
Micro
Miniature
.006" + .003"
(.015mm + .08mm)
No.
.031"
(.8mm)
10,000
Stainless
Steel
Post Plated Tin (matte). (RoHs)
.03"X .173"
(.8mm X 4.4mm)
Bottom.
*ATC-BB-02-001
Micro
.006” + .003”
(.015mm + .08mm)
No.
.047”
(1.2mm)
10,000
Stainless
Steel
Post Plated Tin (matte). (RoHs)
.039”X .205”
(1mm X 5.2mm)
Bottom.
7-88-70001-1
Compact
.006” + .003”
(.015mm + .08mm)
No.
.05”
(1.28mm)
10,000
Stainless
Steel
Preplated Matte Sn over Nickel.
(RoHs)
.035”X .264”
(.9mm X 6.7mm)
Bottom.
7-V2008-110TT
Mini
.007” +/- .002”
(.18mm +/- .05mm)
Yes.
.08”
(2.04mm)
5,000
Stainless
Steel
Preplated Matte Sn over Nickel.
(RoHs)
.04”X .22”
(1.02mm X 2.2mm)
Top.
*7-V2008111AA
Mini
.007” +/- .002”
(.18mm +/- .05mm)
Yes.
.08”
(2.04mm)
5,000
Copper
Alloy
Preplated Tin/Lead over Nickel.
.04”X .22”
(1.02mm X 2.2mm)
Top.
*7-V2008111TT
Mini
.007” +/- .002”
(.18mm +/- .05mm)
Yes.
.08”
(2.04mm)
5,000
Copper
Alloy
Preplated Matte Sn over Nickel.
(RoHs)
.04”X .22”
(1.02mm X 2.2mm)
Top.
7-V2019-115TT
Midi
.014” +/- .002”
(.36mm +/- .05mm)
Yes.
.134”
(3.4mm)
4,500
Copper
Alloy
Preplated Matte Sn over Nickel.
(RoHs)
.09”X .37”
(2.29mm X 9.4mm)
Bottom.
* 7-V2004115AA
Midi
.014” +/- .002”
(.36mm +/- .05mm)
Yes.
.142”
(3.62mm)
2,000
Copper
Alloy
Preplated Tin/Lead over Nickel.
.09”X .37”
(2.29mm X 9.4mm)
Top.
* 7-V2004115TT
Midi
.014” +/- .002”
(.36mm +/- .05mm)
Yes.
.142”
(3.62mm)
2,000
Copper
Alloy
Preplated Matte Sn over Nickel.
(RoHs)
.09”X .37”
(2.29mm X 9.4mm)
Top.
* 7-V2004125AA
Midi
.019” +/- .002”
(.48mm +/- .05mm)
Yes.
.142”
(3.62mm)
2,000
Copper
Alloy
Preplated Tin/Lead over Nickel.
.09”X .37”
(2.29mm X 9.4mm)
Top.
* 7-V2004125TT
Midi
.019” +/- .002”
(.48mm +/- .05mm)
Yes.
.142”
(3.62mm)
2,000
Copper
Alloy
Preplated Matte Sn over Nickel.
(RoHs)
.09”X .37”
(2.29mm X 9.4mm)
Top.
*Preferred, generally in stock by distributon. Lead Free RoHs compliant.
Top Pick Up
Micro
Height
Solder
Wicking
Holes
Compact
Height
Bottom Pick Up
Authorized Distributors
800.325.0534
Contact Casey Donovan
cdonovan@keiconn.com
Autosplice, Inc.
Tel: (858) 535-0077
800.400.7041
contact@heilind.com
Sample Kit Available
Fax: (858) 535-0130
E-mail: connect@autosplice.com
Web: autosplice.com